“The million-dollar question is: do you want him to give up?”
“No.”
“I already knew that.”
“You did?”
“Yes, ever since you told me about your first encounter.”
“What should I do? The attraction I feel for him is irresistible, but I need the job.”
“The job is the least of your worries, Maddie. I know you said you don’t want to work for Christos, but as a last resort, if the situation becomes untenable, he will find a position for you. That’s not the issue; the issue is how your heart will be at the end of this story, because the ending is certain. He made that very clear, and from what you told me, his brother, Zarif, just confirmed it.”
“Yes. I hate the idea of having a deadline. Imagine dating someone for thirty days and then being ‘fired’ because the alarm went off, signaling it’s time to say goodbye.”
“The alternative is for you to stand your ground and refuse to give in, but from personal experience, men like Kamal and Christos don’t give up on what they want.”
“The difference is that Christos was crazy about you. He always has been, from what you told me.”
“And your Sheikh wants sex.” She pauses, increasing my anxiety. “To be honest, all men their age want sex at first. We’ve talked about this. Teenagers and younger people like us dream of romance. For guys like them, who have already lived and experienced a lot, it’s more convenient to jump from one branch to another. Unless . . .”
“Unless what?”
“I’m afraid of giving you advice that might hurt you later.”
“Please tell me. I’m completely lost.”
“What if you turn the tables?”
“What do you mean?”
“Make a counterproposal and protect your heart.”
“I don’t understand.”
“What makes women fall in love is not sex, no matter how good it may be, but the companionship. Innocent andinexperienced as you are, having a first relationship with someone like Kamal can be devastating for your heart.”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I’ve been thinking.”
“On the other hand, if you don’t even try, you’ll spend the rest of your life wondering what it would have been like. If you’re going to lose your virginity, let it be with someone worth it.”
“I’m listening.”
“Give yourself one night.”
“What?”
“He proposed a month, but that could hurt you because during that period, he’ll probably treat you like a girlfriend. He’ll sleep and wake up by your side, take you out to dinner, and shower you with gifts. The chance of your heart being shattered at the end of those thirty days is nearly one hundred percent.”
“And what would be the alternative?”
“When he tries to seduce you again, take the reins. Say that you’ll be his for just one day or one night, maybe both. But when the sun rises the next morning, it’s over.”
Fifteen minutes after hanging up, I’m still staring at the device, my mind running through her words over and over again.
They’re making more sense to me by the second. It’s a way to find out what it’s like to be pleasured by the hands of an experienced man who drives my body wild and also shield myself from hurting.
Zoe is right. In a month, I could fall for him. In one night, I wouldn’t.
